Latest publications

"FIRE UP!"

IELLEN 2013 AGM and Education, Business & Community Awards Presentation

Over 50 members and stakeholders attended the IELLEN 2013 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 7th May 2014. At this year's AGM the IELLEN held the inaugural Education, Business and Community Awards. The awards recognised the achievements of local students, education providers, businesses and community organisations that have contributed to improved outcomes in education, training or employment.

(Pictured above are winners of the IELLEN 2013 Education, Business and Community Awards. Full names, including award categories, are detailed further below in this article.)

Guest speakers included Howard Kelly, a leading expert in education, David Gallagher, VCAL Unit Manager from the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) and Phillip Momtaze from the 'Life after School Ambassador Program'.

Howard Kelly spoke eloquently (and at times a little irreverently!) about the LLEN initiative; it's contribution to education, the community and the IELLEN's focus on addressing local needs. He commended the IELLEN on their consistently collaborative and innovative approach to local partnerships. Howard praised the IELLEN's commitment to capacity building through neutral facilitation, saying "...the IELLEN's approach has supported their overall goal and that of their stakeholders: to improve outcomes in the long term for all young people."

Howard also noted that his observations were reflected in the results of the survey which were completed by IELLEN stakeholders earlier this year. 97% indicated that the IELLEN's role as a local communication and knowledge source truly supported the objectives of the LLEN.

Phillip Momtaze spoke to the guests at the AGM about his employment since leaving school and the support he has received from The Life after School Ambassador program. This program provides an opportunity for young people with a disability to talk about their journey through education, work experience, volunteering and employment. Phillip was open and honest talking about the challenging and the positive aspects of his job with Autobarn.

We also welcomed two new members to the Committee of Management at the AGM – Holly Carpenter from School Focused Youth Services and Anna Pobucky from Education Engagement Partnership.

Following the AGM formalities, Howard and David presented the awards.

The award recipients include:

Small Business Employer of the Year – Il Fornaio

School-based Apprenticeship/Traineeship (SBAT) Employer of the Year - TaskForce Community Agency

SBAT Student of the Year - Sam Tamanalevu

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) Student of the Year - Sam Deed

VCAL Program of the Year - Prahran Community Learning Centre & Montague Continuing Education Centre

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Student of the Year - Daniel Lusi

Outstanding Initiative of the Year - Prahran Community Learning Centre and Oakleigh Grammar

Teacher/Trainer of the Year 2013 - Tony Senese from Prahran Community Learning Centre

The IELLEN would like to thank Howard, David, Phillip and all the attendees for their contribution to the 2013 AGM, their time and their kind words. We would also like to sincerely thank the City of Port Phillip for providing the Bubup Nairm Family Centre as our venue.